Adjustable leveling device

ABSTRACT

An adjustable device for leveling floors, bases and other structures and having a cylindrical, elongate, threaded body supported at one end in an upright position and having at least one diametral slot in its other end of such width as to accommodate a flange formed on the structure to be leveled. An adjustable nut is threaded on the body between the ends of the latter and is adjustable toward and away from the slotted end of the body so as to vary the effective depth of the slot. Bearings preferably are supported in a retainer atop the adjusting nut to eliminate friction between the nut and the flange.

United States Patent Olvera 1 Feb. 29, 1972 [54] ADJUSTABLE LEVELINGDEVICE 3,180,460 4/1965 Liskey ..52/l26 X [72] Inventor: Paul S. olvra2714 wine St" Saginaw, 3,211,454 10/1965 Ba1ley ..52/l26 X 48602 PrimaryExaminer-J. Franklin Foss [22] Filed; De 22, 1969 Att0rney-Learman,Learman & McCulloch [21] App1.No.: 886,942 [57] ABSTRACT An adjustabledevice for leveling floors, bases and other struc- [52] U.S.Cl...52/126, 248/354 S, 254/100 tures and having a cylindrical, elongate,threaded body sup- [Sl] ..E04b 5/00 ported at one end in an uprightposition and having at least [58] Field of Search ..248/405, 406, 354 S,188.4; one diametral slot in its other end of such width as to accom-52/126; 254/98, 100, 102 modate a flange formed on the structure to beleveled. An adjustable nut is threaded on the body between the ends ofthe [56] References Cited latter and is adjustable toward and away fromthe slotted end of the body so as to vary the effective depth of theslot. UNITED STATES PATENTS Bearings preferably are supported in aretainer atop the adtw t d 1,123,960 1/1915 Von Der Lin ..24s/1ss.4el'mmate be the the 1,872,894 8/1932 Collier et a1. .....248/4053,065,506 1 l/ 1962 Tremer ..52/ 126 7 Claims, 4 Drawing FiguresPatented Feb. 29, 1972 FIG. 4

, INVENTOR. PAUL s. OLVERA ADJUSTABLE LEVELING DEVICE This inventionrelates to an adjustable leveling device and more particularly to anadjustable support adapted to be placed beneath a member to be supportedand support the member in a level condition regardless of irregularitiesin the surface above which the member is located.

There are many instances in which a member must be supported in spacedrelation to a lower surface and in such manner as to be level,regardless of the condition of the lower surface. For example, thebottom of a fluid container, such as a swimming pool and the like,should be level so as to avoid undue concentration of forces at one sideor the other of the pool due to undesirable sloping of the bottom wall.Moreover, it is common practice to support flooring of some buildingsabove the level of the base so as to provide space between the flooringand the base for wiring, plumbing, and other materials. lt frequentlyoccurs that the base or lower surface is irregular, therebynecessitating the utilization of some kind of adjustable pedestal orsupport by means of which the structure to be supported above the basemay be made level. Many different kinds of adjustable supports have beenproposed heretofore, but not all of them have been altogethersatisfactory for a number of reasons. For example, some of the priorsupporting devices are composed of a substantial number of parts,thereby rendering them costly. Others of the known devices utilizesleeves or collars which are interposed between the base and the memberto be supported and which are required to rotate relatively to thesupported member. in such a construction the supported member offersconsiderable resistance to movement of the collar. Still others of theknown devices are intricate in manufacture and in operation, therebyresulting in high cost of manufacture and difficulty in use.

An object of this invention is to provide a leveling device whichovercomes the disadvantages of known devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a leveling device which isextremely simple in construction and operation and relativelyinexpensive to produce.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described wherein adjustment of the leveling device relativeto the supported member is facilitated and avoids marring of thesupported member.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed outspecifically or will become apparent from the following description whenit is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of aleveling device constructed in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention and in supporting relation to a member to be supported;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, isometric view of a portion of the levelingapparatus;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken on the line 33of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating a modified form ofdevice.

Apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention is adapted foruse in supporting a structural member 1 such as the bottom of a pool, adeck, a flooring section, or the like, having a depending flange 2. Themember 1 is adapted to be supported at a predetermined distance above alower surface Apparatus constructed in accordance with the embodiment ofthe invention shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a pedestal 4 having abase 5 on which is fixed an upstanding collar 6. An externally threadedbody or rod 7 may be threaded into or fixed to the collar 6 at one end,the other end of the body having a diametral slot 8 formed therein ofsuch size as freely to accommodate the flange 2. The depth of the slotmay vary, but it need be no deeper than the height of the flange 2.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 differs from the previouslydescribed embodiment only in the provision of a pair of mutually normalslots 8 at the free end of the body 7.

In each embodiment of the invention an internally threaded adjusting nut9 is threaded onto the body 7 so as to be adjustable longitudinallythereof. Preferably, a lock nut 10 also is threaded onto the member 7 soas to enable the nut 9 to be fixed in any selected position ofadjustment longitudinally of the member 7. The assembly also preferablyincludes a retainer annulus 11 having a plurality of antifriction ballsor rollers 12 trapped therein so as to provide an antifriction memberatop the adjusting nut 9. The diameter of the balls 12 isgreater thanthe thickness of the annulus 11.

When the apparatus is conditioned for use, the pedestal 4 will bemounted on the lower surface 3 in such manner that the free end of themember 7 is uppermost and the slot 8 is aligned with the flange 2 of themember 1. Should the flange 2 be of cruciform construction, the member 7illustrated in FIG. 4 will be utilized. When the flange 2 is fitted intothe slot 8, the lower edge of the flange 2 will rest upon the retainer 1l. Rotation of the adjusting nut 9 in one direction will permit theflange 2 to move downwardly or more deeply into the slot 8, and rotationof the nut 9 in the opposite direction will cause the flange 2 to moveupwardly and assume a more shallow position in the slot 8. Adjustment ofthe nut 9, therefore, varies the effective depth of the slot 8 andeffects vertical adjustment of the member 1.

When the member 1 has been located at a desired level, the lock nut 10may be turned tightly against the adjusting nut 9 so as to preclude anypossibility of inadvertent adjustment of the nut 9.

During adjustment of the nut 9, the balls or rollers 12 may roll freelyon the confronting surface of the nut 9, thereby preventing any defacingof the lower edge of the flange 2 and facilitating adjustment of the nut9.

The disclosed embodiments are representative of presently preferredforms of the invention, but are intended to be illustrative rather thandefinitive thereof.

1 claim:

1. An adjustable leveling device and a member supported thereby, saidmember having a depending flange, said device comprising a base; anelongate, upright body fixed at its lower end to said base, said bodybeing exteriorly threaded from its upper end toward said lower endthereof, said body having at least one diametral slot extending fromsaid upper end thereof toward said lower end and accommodating saidflange therein, said slot having a depth corresponding substantially tothe height of said flange; and an annular, interiorly threaded adjustingmember threaded onto said body between the ends thereof and inengagement with said flange, said adjusting member being adjustabletoward and away from said upper end of said body while said flange is insaid slot for varying the efiective depth of said slot and the extent towhich said flange extends into said slot.

2. The construction set forth in claim 1 including lock means engageablewith said adjusting means for locking the latter in a selected positionof adjustment longitudinally of said body.

3. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein said upper end of saidbody includes a pair of diametral slots substantially normal to oneanother.

4. The construction set forth in claim 1 including antifriction meanscarried by said adjusting member between the latter and said upper endof said body.

5. The construction set forth in claim 4 wherein said antifrictioncomprises rotatable bearings and bearing retainer means axiallyslideable on said body.

6. The construction set forth in claim 5 wherein said bearings engagesaid adjusting means.

7. The construction set forth in claim 5 wherein said retainer meanscomprises an annulus having circumferentially spaced openings therein,and wherein said bearings comprise balls having a diameter greater thanthe thickness of said annulus.

1. An adjustable leveling device and a member supported thereby, saidmember having a depending flange, said device comprising a base; anelongate, upright body fixed at its lower end to said base, said bodybeing exteriorly threaded from its upper end toward said lower endthereof, said body having at least one diametral slot extending fromsaid upper end thereof toward said lower end and accommodating saidflange therein, said slot having a depth corresponding substantially tothe height of said flange; and an annular, interiorly threaded adjustingmember threaded onto said body between the ends thereof and inengagement with said flange, said adjusting member being adjustabletoward and away from said upper end of said body while said flange is insaid slot for varying the effective depth of said slot and the extent towhich said flange extends into said slot.
 2. The construction set forthin claim 1 including lock means engageable with said adjusting means forlocking the latter in a selected position of adjustment longitudinallyof said body.
 3. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein saidupper end of said body includes a pair of diametral slots substantiallynormal to one another.
 4. The construction set forth in claim 1including antifriction means carried by said adjusting member betweenthe latter and said upper end of said body.
 5. The construction setforth in claim 4 wherein said antifriction comprises rotatable bearingsand bearing retainer means axially slideable on said body.
 6. Theconstruction set forth in claim 5 wherein said bearings engage saidadjusting means.
 7. The construction set forth in claim 5 wherein saidretainer means comprises an annulus having circumferentially spacedopenings therein, and wherein said bearings comprise balls having adiameter greater than the thickness of said annulus.